General News

Are Calls For Vaping Regulation In Mexico Warranted?

The Latin American Herald Tribune recently stated “the lack of regulation of electronic cigarettes in Mexico puts users at risk”. But how true is that?

Laws are a bit confusing in Mexico regarding e-cigarettes, where Article 16 of the General Law for Control of Tobacco prohibits marketing and sales of the product, but not consumption.

While this hasn’t stopped multiple shops from opening and trading, the majority of the e-cigarettes in Mexico are still reportedly imported from China.

The Mexican Government is yet to recognize e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, but they aren’t exactly alone there, with many governments strangely silent in that aspect.

Not so for the UK government though, who have released multiple statements in support of vaping, even going so far as to promote the switch in billboard ads.

Alvaro Perez, the commissioner for Health Cooperation with the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris), said that the lack of regulation has resulted in vaporizers and their components being sold clandestinely.

So basically, as a result of their inaction regarding e-cigarettes, a black market has formed in the vacuum.

Mexico’s Supreme Court granted protection to one such ‘black market’ e-cigarette seller in 2015. Perez was quoted as saying:

“The Court, in tune with protecting public health, ruled that this product may be sold only if it complies with the same regulations as tobacco,”

Guadalupe Ponciano, the director of the Smoking Research and Prevention Program at the Public Health Department of Mexico’s Autonomous National University (UNAM) said that the legal ambiguity confuses consumers and allows disinformation to persist.

Disinformation is rife all over the media when it comes to the subject of vaping. The biggest problem though is when unfounded or poorly researched claims are allowed to circulate unchecked – like the ‘gateway theory’ which has very little evidence at an initial glance, and even less credibility as soon as you look into it.

Ponciano also stated:

“There is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether e-cigarettes are a better alternative to nicotine patches or medications for treating smoking addiction.”

Which means he either hasn’t looked into the facts, or he has been lied to.

Check out the studies referenced here to read about the effectiveness – or lack of effectiveness – of nicotine patches and medications.

It seems to me, their main problem is inaction. They need to regulate e-cigarettes and promote them as a healthier, alternative nicotine delivery system.

An option for people who want to get their nicotine hit without dying.

Currently located in Sydney, Australia, I have been vaping since 2009 and became active in the e-cigarette industry in late 2015. Since then I’ve had the pleasure of visiting over 700 shops in 6 countries.

Vapetrotter.com is the global resource for vape store locations and travel information, with over 37,000 vape stores listed in 106 countries, along with necessary travel information for anywhere on earth.